Archaeological Monitoring at No.1 Church Farm Cottage, Great Witchingham, Norfolk

Archaeological monitoring at No.1 Church Farm Cottage, Great Witchingham, Norfolk.

Prepared for Mrs A.Benton

Giles Emery February 2011

Report No: 11

NHES Event No: ENF125612 Job Ref: NVC/2010/GE52 OASIS ID: norvicar1-93215

 www.norvicarchaeology.com  07759016372  [email protected]

NO.1 CHURCH FARM COTTAGE, GREAT WITCHINGHAM, NORFOLK.

Contents

1.0 Introduction 2 2.0 Summary of Results 2 3.0 Geology and Topography 4 4.0 Brief Archaeological and Historical Background 4 5.0 Methodology 5 6.0 Results 6 7.0 Finds Analysis 9  Pottery 9  Fired Clay 10  Other Artefacts 10 8.0 Conclusions 14 9.0 Acknowledgements 15 10.0 Bibliography 15 Appendix 1a: Context Summary 21 Appendix 1b: OASIS feature summary table 22 Appendix 2a: Finds by Context 22 Appendix 2b: NHER finds summary table 22 Appendix 3: Pottery 23 Appendix 4: Catalogue of other artefacts 24 Figures Figure 1 Site location plan 3 Figure 2 Trench location plan 16 Figure 3 Sunken steps to blocked doorway 17 Figure 4 North-east end of trench 18 Figure 5 South-west end of trench 19 Figure 6 Sections A and B 20

Plates Plate 1 General Site shot (Pre-works) Cover Plate 2 General Site shot (Pre-works) 5 Plate 3 General Site shot (Post-excavation ) 6 Plate 4 Ditch ([07]) 7 Plate 5 Grave features 7 Plate 6 Sunken Steps to Blocked Doorway 8 Plate 7 Excavation of the child burial 14

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Archaeological Monitoring at No.1 Church Farm Cottage, Great Witchingham, NR9 5PL.

Location: Great Witchingham Grid Ref: TG 1035 2007 NHES Event No: ENF125612 Date of fieldwork: 4th-6th January 2011

1.0 Introduction

Norvic Archaeology was commissioned by Mrs A. Benton, on behalf of the cottage owner, to undertake archaeological monitoring of groundworks associated with the creation of a sunken path with retaining wall at the side of a No.1 Church Farm Cottage (a Grade II Listed building which abuts the cemetery of St Mary’s Churchyard) as part of a programme of internal and external alterations (Figure 1, below).

The archaeological monitoring was undertaken to fulfil a planning condition (Planning application No. 20101108) set by Broadland District Council and in accordance with a brief issued by the Historic Environment Service (HES Ref: CNF42989). The aim of the monitoring work was to preserve by record the presence/absence, date, nature, and extent of any buried archaeological remains and features. This report presents a brief description of the methodology followed, the results and the archaeological interpretation of the monitoring.

On completion of the project, the site archive will be offered for long term deposition with Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service, following the relevant policy on archiving standards.

2.0 Summary of Results

An area of hitherto unknown and unmarked graves was discovered close to the south-west corner of the cottage. Some of these graves contained evidence of long since decayed coffins and included the burial of a young child. This burial, and at least one other, had been disturbed during construction activity associated with the cottage‟s foundations; when a large volume of firm sandy-clay was imported on to the site to form a building platform prior to construction. A layer of redeposited sand and soil below the topsoil in the same area contained skeletal fragments of, at minimum, one adult and one child. These remains may indicate further disturbance to burials in the vicinity at some time from around the early 20th century

The partly exposed flint and mortar foundations of the cottage confirm observations of the masonry above ground; that the rear of the building has seen various phases of alterations and extension work. The trench also revealed the sunken steps to a blocked doorway at the south-east corner of the cottage.

Soil alongside the cottage contained late Victorian to early 20th century domestic rubbish. Artefacts recovered include a bone handled toothbrush, various glass bottles; including a bottle for „Edward‟s “Uzon” Brilliantine‟ hair oil, a jar for „Singleton‟s Eye Ointment‟, a miniature doll‟s chamber pot and various sherds of Victorian ceramics.

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Figure 1: Site location plan Site: ENF125612

Great Witchingham

Norwich

Figure 1: Site Location Plan NVC REF: GE52 3

NO.1 CHURCH FARM COTTAGE, GREAT WITCHINGHAM, NORFOLK.

3.0 Geology and Topography

The site is located on the northern edge of the River Wensum valley, on high ground which falls away to the south to meet the flood plain of the river at Lenwade.

The underlying geology is Upper Chalk, overlain by crag material of banded sand and gravel deposits. Superficial deposits in the area are complex post-glacial tills and the site lies close to outcrops of mid Pleistocene glacio-fluvial sands and gravels. Brickearth and alluvial deposits are also recorded to the north and west of the site (British Geological Survey – Geology of Britain Viewer at a scale of 1:50000 (http://maps.bgs.ac.uk/geologyviewer_google/googleviewer.html).

The sub-surface geology of the site encountered during the fieldwork can be characterised as glacio-fluvial sands with pockets of drift chalk and marl.

4.0 Brief Archaeological and Historical Background

Great Witchingham is a relatively small parish to the north-west of Norwich which has a reduced modern population clustered at the centre of the parish. The modest hamlets of Foxford and Blackwater are also included in the bounds of Great Witchingham. It lies close to the larger village of Lenwade which is located to the south on the banks of the River Wensum.

A parish summary compiled by Sarah Spooner (2006) is available to view on the Norfolk Heritage Explorer Website – an online resource (www.heritage.norfolk.gov.uk) - as an overview of nearly 100 records generated for Great Witchingham which give evidence of human occupation and activity for most historic periods in the form of find scatters, cropmarks, listed buildings and excavated sites.

The works took place within the boundary of St Mary‟s cemetery (see NHER 7474 described below). The church dates mainly to the 14th century but may have Late Saxon origins. In the Domesday Book (1086) no distinction is made between Great Witchingham and Little Witchingham, but Witchingham is recorded as a fairly substantial and valuable settlement, with a church and an outlier in Weston Longville.

The existing cottage property is a traditional style, semi-detached cottage which originally formed a terrace of three farm cottages built from c.1690 (see NHER 41070 described below). The current owners plan to restore and repair the fabric of the building, stripping back internally to reveal any remnants of original features.

The following information has been sourced from the Norfolk Historic Environment Record (NHER). Sites of particular relevance or interest recorded by the Historic Environment Record which fall in close proximity to the site (c.500m radius) include:

 Find Spots

NHER 16567: In c. 1732 a stone font or cistern was ploughed up in arable fields (c. 120m to the north-west of the site).

NHER 11931: In 1976 a Neolithic polished flint axe head and bones of unknown date were found near the site of a spring collected from peat deposits during works on drainage ditches c. 380m to the north-east.

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 Listed Buildings

NHER 41070: „Church Cottages’ or ‘Nos. 1-3 Church Farm Cottages’ – a range of late 17th century Grade II Listed cottages with substantial later alterations. Grade II Listed. Colour-washed brick, pantiled roof hipped to east; a U-plan of two storeys; tumbled parapet gables; windows 19th to 20th century; stacks at gables and off centre in main range; fragments of pilasters and string courses. The gabled wing to north has a moulded brick cornice.

NHER 7474: St Mary’s Church, Great Witchingham - a medieval parish church, which may date back to the Late Saxon period (a Grade I Listed Building).. The stone church dates mainly to the 14th century, and was restored in the 19th century. The 15th century Seven Sacrament font is one of the best examples of this kind of font in the country, and retains much of its original medieval paint.

NHER 41182: Church Farm - A 17th century brick farmhouse, with parapetted gables with brick tumbling. The nearby threshing barn dates from the 18th century. Grade II Listed Buildings.

NHER 41072: Glebe Farm - A mid-19th century red brick house. The house has a gabled porch, with a terracotta plaque bearing a coat of arms. Grade II Listed Building.

NHER 41069: Great Witchingham House, formerly Old Rectory - a late 18th or early 19th century former rectory, with a pedimented central bay on the main façade. The nearby stable block also dates to the early 19th century. Grade II Listed Building.

5.0 Methodology

Prior to the works, the ground level of the churchyard was at windowsill level, causing major problems with internal damp and to the structure of the wall. The objective of the archaeological monitoring was to record any archaeological evidence revealed during the excavation of soils to create a sunken path and the footing trench of the contiguous retaining wall. This comprised of an L shaped trench c. 13.5m in length, c. 1.5m wide and c.

1.25m in depth.

The spoil was excavated using a 3-ton 360° rubber tracked machine with a ditching bucket, although a small toothed bucket was used in areas checked to be devoid of archaeological deposits to create the footing trench of the retaining wall. In areas thought to contain possible archaeologically significant deposits the footing trench was excavated by hand.

As the ground remains part of St Mary‟s cemetery, a Faculty was granted by the Consistory Court of the Diocese of Norwich (Faculty Petition No. 0349/10) authorising the works, subject to archaeological monitoring. The Faculty also stipulated that all excavated spoil remain on consecrated ground, this was duly accommodated through agreement with the Churchwarden. All spoil arisings were spread on an area of ground immediately to the south-west of the trench. Plate 2: General pre-excavation shot of the site (looking west)

Although human remains were encountered as both redeposited fragments and in situ contexts, following consultation with Reverend Leslie Tillet all such remains were carefully

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NO.1 CHURCH FARM COTTAGE, GREAT WITCHINGHAM, NORFOLK. reburied within the confines of the trench below the level of any likely disturbance (marked on Figure 5).

Spoil, exposed surfaces and features were scanned with a metal detector (Minelab XTerra 705). All metal-detected and hand-collected finds were retained for inspection, other than those which were obviously modern.

All archaeological features and deposits were recorded using Norvic Archaeology pro forma sheets. Trench locations, plans (Figures 2-5) and sections (Figure 6) were recorded at appropriate scales and both black & white film and digital images were taken of all relevant features and deposits.

All levels were taken using the OS benchmark of 34.14m AOD located on a buttress at the south-east corner of St Mary‟s Church.

6.0 Results (Appendix 1a)

 ‘Natural deposits’

Naturally formed geological deposits were encountered at the base of the trench present at between 0.85 and 1.05m below the surface. These deposits were primarily layers of soft and firm layers of orange sands and sandy-clays with firm patches of chalky drift and marl.

 Buried Sub-soil (medieval)

Traces of a primary subsoil horizon (05), truncated by all the observed features was recorded in Sections A and B. This deposit comprised of a mid-greyish-brown silty-sand surviving to a depth of c.0.22m.

Plate 3: General post-excavation shot of the trench  Ditch (? medieval) (looking west-south-west) [1m Scale]

Clear evidence for a deep feature pre-dating the construction of the cottage was partly revealed below the sandy-clay make-up (03) which was notably deeper above the slumped zone of the ditch fill below. This feature was identified and partly investigated within the limited confines of the step trench, excavated to provide the foundations for the modern retaining wall. It proved to be well-defined and was interpreted with confidence as the edge of a large ditch ([07]). The ditch exceeds 0.8m in depth and 2m in length, and is on a similar north-north-west to south-south-east alignment as the current churchyard boundary wall and the roadway which respects it.

The ditch contained a firm, mid-brown silty-sand (04), free from modern intrusions. Several soft and degraded patches of fired-clay were noted in the fill; four consolidated pieces were retained for closer identification and proved to be fragments of daub. Two small pieces of medieval pottery were also collected from the deposit and a few heat affected flints were also noted.

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Plate s 4 & 5: Ditch ([07]) (looking east) and Grave Features including a child burial (looking west) [1m Scale + 0.5m Scale]

 Graves (Post-medieval)

Evidence of disturbed burials in the area was first encountered at the south-western end of the trench, where numerous fragments of human skeletal remains were collected from a layer of redeposited silty-sand (08). This layer was just below the topsoil and a few fragments of 19th to early 20th century rubbish in the form of broken glass and ceramics were present in the same deposit.

The skeletal fragments represented a minimum of two individuals, and included fragments of adult pelvis, femur, thoracic vertebrae, ribs, skull, mandible, phalanges, scapula and calcaneous, along with fragmentary remains of juvenile maxilla, tibia, fibula and rib.

Several cut features were discovered at the very south-western end of the trench which pre-date the construction of the cottage. Stratigraphically, the latest of these was the disturbed remnants of a child‟s grave. Only the neck, skull, part of the lower left arm and parts of both femurs remained intact, the rest appears to have been removed during the construction of a clay platform for the cottage.

The grave cut ([14]) was modest in size and appears to have accommodated the remains of a small child of c.0.9m stature and estimated at 3 to 5 years of age (SK16), although more likely around 3 years of age based on the presence of full deciduous dentition (J. Wood pers. comm.) A single piece of medieval pottery was collected from the grave fill (15), but is likely to be residual in nature.

Several coffin nails, some examples of which had mineralised wood attached, were situated around the in-situ remains. The grave is on the same non-magnetic east-west alignment as the existing church. It partly truncated the very shallow remnant of a larger, square ended grave ([18]), all but removed by the same late post-medieval construction activity ([09]). The

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NO.1 CHURCH FARM COTTAGE, GREAT WITCHINGHAM, NORFOLK. child‟s grave was inserted into a much deeper feature ([12]) which either represents a single large pit, or more likely a cluster of intercutting graves. No evidence of human remains, in-situ or otherwise, was present at a level likely to be disturbed by the modern construction, so no deeper investigation of the deposits was carried out.

A fairly steep sided feature was caught by edge of the excavated trench, mostly visible in the north-west facing section ([11]). This feature may also represent a small but slightly deeper grave cut; a single coffin nail was identified in the lowest area exposed.

 Recent Activity (18th to Early 20th century)

Building platform & foundations

Construction of the cottage appears to have followed considerable preparatory work in the form of imported heavy sandy-clay to form a firm platform (03) placed within a slight construction cut ([09]); presumably to allow for a relatively level and stable construction horizon. Once installed the base of the flint and mortar foundation appears to have been trench-built into this material. The upper zone of the sandy-clay exhibited numerous rejected waste building flints and a few paring flakes.

The flint and mortar foundations of the cottage were partly exposed during the works. They appear to confirm observations of the masonry above ground: that the rear of the cottage has seen significant later alterations and represents a considerable phase of extension to the property.

Brick & flint steps/blocked doorway

The buried remains of a set of sunken steps (17) were revealed and removed during the machine works at the north-eastern end of the trench. The steps themselves were constructed of brick with partly robbed flints once forming the step surface. This led to a larger entrance step of two square slabs of York Stone with notable wear on the threshold exposed edge. The inner stub retaining walls were of flint and mortar construction, with some recycled brick and were partly lime plastered. Wall scars higher than the surviving height of the steps, demonstrate a former sunken access of c. 0.45m to 0.60m deep down to a brick blocked doorway, clearly visible in the elevation of the wall in the south- east corner of the cottage. This „side/corner‟ access appears to be contemporary with the flint and mortar foundation of the cottage. The blocking bricks were of late brick bonded in Flemish style bond.

The steps were filled with demolition rubble, including mortar, plaster, bricks, flints and grey pantiles similar to those that still cover the rear half of the cottage, the front half now Plate 6: Sunken steps (17) to blocked doorway being covered with terracotta replacements. (looking north-west) [1m Scale]

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Reused grave markers

Several stone flags used to top the boundary wall were removed during the works, prior to demolition of a segment of this coarse flint and mortar wall. Several of these were revealed to be reused fragments of grave markers with one piece carved with the date 1885.

Rubble and rubbish rich soil

Above the imported sandy-clay platform material (03), but below the active topsoil (01) was a layer of mixed soil c.0.35m deep with frequent rubble inclusions (02). Along with fragments of brick, mortar and grey pantiles, was a high occurrence of Victorian and early 20th century domestic rubbish. This make-up deposit may have primarily constituted a levelling soil, although with an accumulation of waste rich material, most likely residual to the activities of those occupying the adjacent cottage.

7.0 Finds Analysis (Appendix 2a)

 Pottery

Introduction

Twenty sherds of pottery weighing a total of 559g were collected from three contexts. Table 1 shows the quantification by fabric; a summary catalogue by context is included as Appendix 3.

Description Fabric No Wt/g MNV Medieval coarseware MCWM 3 3 Total medieval 3 Refined white earthenware REFW 2 2 Transfer printed earthenware TPE 3 3 Late glazed red earthenware LGRE 3 2 Pearlware PEW 3 2 Porcelain PORC 1 1 Yellow ware YELW 1 1 Red stoneware RDSW 2 2 Cologne/Frechen Stoneware GSW4 1 1 Late slipped redware LSRW 1 1 Total Late P.med/E.modern 17 Grand Total 20 19 Table 1. Pottery quantification by fabric. Methodology

Basic quantification was carried out using sherd count and weight only. All fabric codes follow the post-Roman fabric series after Sue Anderson with form terminology following MPRG (1998). A detailed catalogue with quantification by sherd is presented as Appendix 3.

Pottery by period

Medieval

A total of three sherds of medieval greyware pottery were collected; two small sherds from the fill (04) of a ditch and one from the grave fill (15), a child burial of probable post- medieval date. All three body sherds were of a very similar micaceous coarseware – a medium sandy fabric, oxidised internally and reduced and sooted externally, of 12th to 14th century date.

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Late post-medieval/Early Modern

A total of seventeen sherds of 18th to early 20th century pottery were collected during the monitoring works as a selected sample of the fabric types present in context (02), while the single sherd collected from context (03) was in fact the only sherd available. Two ceramic artefacts are not included here, a miniature doll‟s chamber pot and a pedestal ointment pot which are described in more detail below.

The assemblage is domestic in nature including examples of 19th to early 20th century kitchenware, low to fair quality tableware, including transfer printed wares and toiletry ceramics represented by a sherd of washbowl. A single sherd of probable Cologne/Frechen Stoneware may be residual within the assemblage, although several revivals of German ceramic traditions occurred as late as the 19th century, so this may represent a fragment of a reproduction for the English market.

The variety of pottery found represents a late Victorian to Edwardian domestic assemblage, with a number of other artefacts of a similar period and nature collected from the site, including glass bottles and fragments of other household objects.

 Fired Clay (Appendix 4)

Four pieces of fired clay weighing 123g were collected from the fill of a possible ditch. All four are of the same fabric - a mid pinkish-orange, dense with common calcareous inclusions from crushed flecks up to sub rounded pieces (of up to 120mm). Chalk or lime inclusions were often added to daub – particularly where locally available as aggregate as dictated by the natural geology (Graham 2004, 15), perhaps to improve workability or strength. These pieces appear to be a mixture of natural clay inclusions, already present in the clay source, augmented by the addition of crushed pieces.

The thickest dimension available is 300mm, with three of the pieces presenting a fairly smooth, flat surface and one piece exhibiting preserved impressions of withy or lathes on opposing sides with diameters of c. 16mm, proving that it was structural.

The function of the pieces is uncertain, although they could be from the superstructure of a hearth as a few heat affected flints were also noted as residual inclusions within the same context.

 Other Artefacts (Appendix 4)

Animal Bone

Although no animal bone was available from archaeologically significant contexts, a small number of diagnostic pieces were noted on site sourced to the early modern context (02). The pieces included a large fragment of chopped mandible from a juvenile pig and several butchered and chopped fragments of cow bone, including a mandible fragment, a chopped proximal humorous and a medial fragment of ulna. Cut marks were notable on most of the pieces but no evidence of gnawing, suggesting that this food waste was inaccessible to scavengers and is therefore residual evidence of previously buried material.

Glass Artefacts

Glass bottles

Five complete, or nearly complete glass bottles were collected from context (02). All examples are machine moulded and date from the 19th century to around the early 20th

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century. The bottles are domestic in nature and include an inkwell, a Camp Coffee bottle and a Brilliantine hair oil container.

Brilliantine was invented as a new form of macassar oil at the turn of the 20th century by French perfumer Edward Pinaud (Chisholm 1911). He called it Brillantine and presented it to the world in 1900 at the Exposition Universelle in Paris. It consisted of a perfumed oily liquid, used for softening hair, including beards and moustaches to give a well groomed, glossy appearance.

Camp Coffee or „essence of coffee and chicory‟ was first produced in 1876 by Paterson & Sons Ltd. in a plant on Charlotte St, Glasgow. It is popularly believed to have been devised as a coffee substitute for military campaigns and was commonly used as cake flavouring from its inception when coffee was still a luxury item for many households.

Drinking Glass

The heavy base of a 19th century handmade table/wine glass with notable wear on the foot was recovered. This example does not have a not have a folded foot, unlike the majority of early drinking glasses which make use of heavy bases prior to the 1745 Excise Act which raised the price of „flint‟ glass by weight. The concealed pontil scar allows for a flat base – this method became widespread from c.1825 onwards (Shopland 2005, 152). Lead glass drinking vessels were mass-produced in many centres of production, for example Bristol the Midlands and the North-East of England (Bickerton 3, 2009).

Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 02 - Glass Drinking Glass - M19th+ E.modern foot Handmade lead glass, rounded edge heavy, flat based, concealed pontil scar. Heavy striation marks. Wear on foot. Diameter: 58mm. A table/wine glass.

Ceramic Artefacts

Miniature Chamber Pot

A miniature dollhouse-sized china chamber pot with undecorated white glazed china and simple loop handle dating from the 19th to early 20th century – it probably formed part of a doll‟s toiletry set.

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Pedestal pot for ‘Singleton’s Eye Ointment’

Approximately 2/3rds of a damaged pedestal ointment pot, of glazed stoneware impressed with blue glazed writing. Fortunately the legend is complete marking this as ‘Singleton’s Eye Ointment’.

These pedestal style pots are often mistaken for stoppers, the ointment was contained in a depressed circular area on top and covered with a circle of greaseproof paper (www.antiquebottles.co.za). The ointment contained 5.45% of Mercuric Oxide and boxed collectors‟ examples are marked as „Poison‟.

Singleton‟s Eye Ointment was produced at what is now 210 Lambeth Road from 1784 to 1975. The recipe was passed by marriage to the Singleton family and in the late 18th century the preparation became well known. The distinctive shallow pots used to contain the product can be seen in the Museum‟s collection and were produced until the mid-20th century when they were replaced by glass versions. Production of Singleton‟s Eye Ointment changed hands at the end of the 19th century and was discontinued in 1975 (MoRPS – Sheet 22). This example appears to date from the 19th to early 20th century.

Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 02 - Ceramic Pedestal pot 19-E20th E.modern Approximately two-thirds of a white glazed china, miniature doll‟s chamber pot, undecorated with simple loop handle. 21mm in height. Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 02 - Ceramic Pedestal Pot E20th E.modern Approximately 2/3rds of a damaged pedestal ointment pot, of glazed stoneware impressed with blue glazed writing - ‘Singleton’s Eye Ointment’. Diameter: 52mm, Height: 21mm

Oil lamp

The slightly squashed base of a copper-alloy, Victorian style paraffin-oil lamp complete with regulator and burner head components. Ornamental decoration in the form of perforated diamond mesh on the mantle with a simple foliate styled collar piece. Oil lamps were the main source of lighting in rural areas up until the 1930s when the National Grid began to make electricity more widely available.

Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 02 - Cu Alloy Gas lamp 19-E20th E.modern Oil light fitting with 9 individual components including regulator and burner head. Mantle decorated with perforated diamond mesh and simple foliate on collar piece. 180g

Lead Object

A small, twisted length of lead was collected from a post-medieval soil layer (02) which appears to be a scrap of window came. Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 02 - Lead Fragment - E.modern Twisted ?window came fragment. Length: 60mm, Weight 5g.

Worked Stone

A beaded fragment of molded worked fine limestone (possibly Portland Stone) with traces of whitewash was collected from context (02). This may represent a scrap of material left over from the 19th century restoration works at the church.

Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 02 - Worked Stone Fragment P.med E.modern Beaded ?Portland Stone, traces of whitewash. Unabraded. 70g

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Ferrous Nails

Three iron nails were collected from a post-medieval make-up deposit (03); an oval headed nail and two smaller tack like stud nails. The oval nail is possibly a carpenter‟s nail but the two smaller stud nails could be associated with coffin construction.

Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 03 [09] Iron Nail - L.Post-medieval Oval head, 60mm thick square shank, 800mm in length 03 [09] Iron Nail/Stud - L.Post-medieval Oval head, 200mm in length 03 [09] Iron Nail/Stud - L.Post-medieval Oval head, 150mm in length

Bone toothbrush

A bone handle from a late 19th to early 20th century toothbrush, with broken head. The handle is marked near the head with the number ‘28’ – referring to the number of bristle tufts (which were usually pig or boar bristle). A much worn maker‟s motif in the form of a ?rose or flower with leaves possibly with ‘R‟ and ‘O’ on either side above the word ‘WARRANTY’ – a guarantee to the purchaser of the quality of the brush from the manufacturer.

Bone handled tooth brushes of this type were mass-produced in America from the 1850s with local chemists producing their own supply for consumers elsewhere. Toothbrushes manufactured of more hygienic synthetic materials were not available until the late 1930s.

Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 02 - Bone Toothbrush L19-E20th E.modern Broken head. Marked ‘28’ (bristle no.) and worn maker‟s motif ?Rose or flower with leaves between and „?R’ and „?O’ above ‘WARRANTY’.. 5mm Thick. 121mm Length, 12g

Bone handled knife

A composite bone-handled scale tanged knife with an integrally forged bolster, flat ended with an end cap missing. Several copper-alloy rivets are still in place. Two parallel groove marks on the proximal end of one side of the handle. A fairly utilitarian ferrous table knife of late 18th to 19th century date.

Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 02 - Iron/Bone/Cu Alloy Knife 18-20th E.modern Composite scale tanged knife, integral bolster, blade 2mm thick. Bone scales held with 3 copper alloy rivets two parallel grooves on proximal end of one scale. Riveted end cap missing. Handle 12mm thick, forms 77mm of 98mm length. Total weight 37g.

Clay Tobacco Pipe

A total of three stems of clay tobacco pipe were collected from late-post-medieval to early modern contexts (02) & (03).

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8.0 Conclusions

Archaeological monitoring revealed an area of hitherto unknown and unmarked graves close to the south-west corner of the cottage. Official burial records are available from 1895, with no plot records relating to this area (Janet Houlston – Church Warden pers. comm.). These graves made use of coffins and included the burial of a young child, disturbed during construction activity associated with the cottage.

Given the presence of coffin burials, a practice usually afforded higher status inhumations in the medieval period, these graves likely date from the post-medieval period, yet predate the cottage which has origins in the very late 17th century. Below the topsoil a layer of redeposited sand and soil contained skeletal fragments of, at minimum, one adult and one child. These remains may indicate further disturbance to burials in the vicinity at some time from around the early th 20 century. Plate 7: Excavation of a child burial (SK:16) (looking west) [0.5m Scale]

A fairly substantial ditch of probable medieval date was discovered at the north-eastern end of the trench. The ditch is on the same alignment as the existing church boundary and roadway and may be a precursor of either. A few pieces of daub with withy impressions and two small pieces of medieval pot were collected from the ditch.

The work revealed the sunken steps to a blocked doorway in the south-east corner of the cottage. This doorway appears to have been contemporary to the cottage foundations and may have been blocked as recently as the early 20th century. The cottage is constructed c.1m over the current churchyard boundary, combined with the presence of a former doorway facing out into the churchyard, it is tempting to speculate that the cottage was once intended to accommodate a layperson, such as a sexton or verger requiring immediate and direct access to the churchyard.

A significant volume of firm sandy-clay was imported on to the site to form good ground, prior to the construction of the cottage. The flint and mortar foundations of the cottage were partly exposed during the works. They appear to confirm observations of the masonry above ground that the rear of the cottage has seen later alterations and a phase of considerable extension to the rear.

An accumulation of soils alongside the cottage contained late Victorian to early 20th century rubbish, most likely residual to the activities of those who once occupied it. This rubbish included a variety of domestic artefacts dating from around the turn of the 20th century; including a bone handled toothbrush, a bottle for „Edward‟s “Uzon” Brilliantine‟ hair oil, a jar for „Singleton‟s Eye Ointment‟, a Camp Coffee bottle, various sherds of Victorian household ceramics, part of an oil lamp and a miniature doll‟s chamber pot.

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10.0 Acknowledgements

Thanks are due to Annie Benton who commissioned Norvic Archaeology to carry out this work on behalf of the owner and who also offered fine hospitality, including hot soup on a cold day. Machine work was carried out with due care by James Barham assisted by Tom Woolner, under instruction by Douglas Benton.

All stages of the monitoring and post-excavation analysis work were carried out by the author. Thanks to Richenda Goffin for advice regarding elements of the pottery assemblage and Jennifer Wood for sharing her thoughts on the child burial.

11.0 Bibliography

Adkins, L & R. 1998 The Handbook of British Archaeology. London. Bickerton, L.M. 2009 English Drinking Glasses 1675-1825. Shire publications Chrisholm, H. (ed.) 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica (Eleventh ed.). Cambridge University Press Graham, T. 2004 Wattle and Daub: Craft, Conservation and Wiltshire Case Stud. Unpublished dissertation. University of Bath. Jennings, S. 1981 Eighteen centuries of pottery from Norwich. East Anglian Archaeology 13. MoRPS Accessed Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society: Information Sheet 22 January http://www.rpharms.com/museum-pdfs/22-lambeth-s-links-with-pharmacy.pdf 2011 MPRG 1998 A Guide to the Classification of Medieval Ceramic Forms. Medieval Pottery Research Group Occasional Paper 1. Shopland, N. 2005 Archaeological Finds, a guide to identification. Tempus

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No.2

No.1

ENF125612

St Mary's Church

0 20 m

Figure 2. Trench location plan. Scale 1:250 NVC REF: GE52 16 No.1 CHURCH FARM COTTAGE, GREAT WITCHINGHAM, NORFOLK.

YS 03

: Flints : Brick

YS : York Stone Slab

0 2 m

Figure 3. Sunken steps (17) to blocked doorway. Scale 1:20.

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03 03

l of sunken steps). Scale 1:40 Scale steps). sunken of l Section A Section

[07]

FigureNorth-east 4. end of the trench (post-remova

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2 m

Area used for reburial

[18]

Figure 5. South-west end of the trench. Scale 1:20 FigureScale South-west 5. end of the trench.

[11]

[14]

[12]

SK16

Section B

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Section A: 'North-west facing section of Ditch [07]'

NE SW

Topsoil 01 32.85m O.D. 02

Natural

04 [07]

Section B: 'Features including a child burial at the south-west end of the trench'

SW NE SE NW

32.85m O.D. Topsoil 01

05 15 03

BoundaryFooting Wall 10 13 13 [09] Natural Nat. Nat. [11] SK16 [14] [12]

: Flints : Brick/Tile

: Coffin nails

0 3m

Figure 6. Sections A and B. Scale 1:30 NVC REF: GE52 20 NO.1 CHURCH FARM COTTAGE, GREAT WITCHINGHAM, NORFOLK.

Appendix 1a: Context Summary

Context Category ?Fill of Brief Physical Description Interpretation Period

Friable, dark-brownish-grey sandy-loam (clay>silt). Active topsoil 01 Deposit 0RGµ9LFWRULDQ¶SRWWHU\GHEULVRFFFEP,URQ Modern frags, window glass, pantile frags, lead sheeting and stones. 0.20m deep

Friable, mid-yellowish-brownish loam (clay>silt) & Soil & rubble 02 Deposit FOD\VDQGPL[0RGµ9LFWRULDQ¶SRWWHU\GHEULV make-up layer E.20th Century occ. cbm, glass, pantile frags, and stones. Occ. mortar, plaster, animal bone. c. 0.35m deep.

V.firm, mid-yellowish-brown v.sandy-clay, mod Make-up th 03 Deposit [09] stones, occ. chalk/marl, rare cbm + charcoal. 0.9m platform 18 Century+ + deep

Firm, mid-brown silty-sand, occ. charcoal, fired ?Ditch-fill 04 Deposit [07] ?µ0HGLHYDO¶ clay lumps, stones, charcoal flecks, >0.80m deep

Friable, mid-greyish-brown silty-sand (clay 10%), Subsoil Layer 05 Deposit ?µ0HGLHYDO¶ occ. stones, rare chalk/marl, 0.22m deep

06 Deposit Soft sands, firm sands and dense chalk drift/chalky Natural clay. mod. stones. 07 Cut Partially investigated steep-sided cut ?Ditch ?µ0HGLHYDO¶

Soft, mottled-yellowish-grey & orangey-yellow, 08 Deposit silty-sand, occ. fragmentary HSR, cbm, Victorian + Make-up E.20th Century+ ceramic debris, 0.22m deep

09 Cut Partially identified construction cut containing Construction 18th Century+ firm platform material (03) cut

Friable, dark-greenish-grey v.silty-sand, 0.03m 10 Deposit [11] Grave-fill Post-medieval deep

Clipped obliquely by the baulk section of the 11 Cut ?Grave-cut Post-medieval trench

12 Cut Probable intercutting grave cuts ?Grave-cut/s Post-medieval

V.friable, mid-yellowish-brown sandy-loam, occ. 13 Deposit [12] Grave-fill Post-medieval stones, small mortar lumps

Child grave, cut measured 1.10m L, 0.30 W, 14 Cut Grave-cut Post-medieval 0.60m deep

V.friable, mid-yellowish-brown sandy-loam, occ. 15 Deposit [14] Grave-fill Post-medieval stones

Extended inhumation of a child, originally 16 Skeleton [14] Inhumation Post-medieval contained by a coffin.

17 Masonry Buried sunken steps to blocked doorway 18th Century+

18 Cut Shallow remnant of a probable grave cut ?Grave-cut Post-medieval

V.friable, mid-brownish-grey sandy-loam, occ. 19 Deposit [18] Grave-fill Post-medieval stones

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Appendix 1b: OASIS feature summary table

Period Feature type Quantity Medieval (1066 to 1539AD) Ditch 1 House platform 1 µ%ORFNHGGRRUZD\ 1

Post-medieval (1540 to 1900AD) ZLWKVXQNHQVWHSV¶ Grave 4 Extended Inhumation 1 ± child burial

Appendix 2a: Finds by Context

Context Material Quantity Weight (g) Comment Ceramic object ± Miniature 1 7 GROO¶VFKDPEHUSRW Ceramic object ± Pedestal 1 42 6LQJOHWRQ¶V(\H Pot Ointment Glass ± bottle 5 567 Glass ± drinking vessel 1 33 Base/foot 02 Object ± bone toothbrush 1 13 Object ± knife (bone handle) 1 36 Object ± Cu Alloy oil lamp 1 180 x9 components Pottery 16 536 Clay Tobacco Pipe 1 1 Stem Worked Stone 1 70 Nail ± Iron 3 15 Lead - ?came 1 5 03 Pot 1 17 Clay Tobacco pipe 2 5 Stem Fired Clay (daub) 4 123 04 Pot 2 3 15 Pot 1 3

Appendix 2b: NHER finds summary table

Period Material Quantity Unknown Lead - ?came 1 Fired Clay Daub 4 Medieval (1066 to 1539AD) ± Pottery 3 Clay Tobacco Pipe 3 Glass vessel ± Drinking glass 1 Iron Nail 3 Object ± Bone toothbrush 1 Object ± Doll furniture 1 Post-medieval (1540 to 1900AD) (chamber pot) Object ± Drug jar 1 Object ± Oil lamp 1 Object ± Knife 1 Pottery 17 Worked Stone 1 Modern (1900 to 2050 AD) Glass Bottle 5

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Appendix 3: Pottery

Context Fabric Form No Wt/g Sherd date range comments 02 REFW Wash bowl 1 42 L.18th-20th c. Rim of a wash bowl, raised pellet moulding on rim with cobalt glaze. Cracking. 02 REFW Jar (lid), 1 164 L.18th-20th c. Circular white lid 02 TPE Plate 1 57 19-20th c. Low quality blue transfer. Cracking. Unmarked. Printed with oriental characteristics, including small boats on a wooded lake or river scene with pavilion and flying birds 02 TPE Plate 1 12 19-20th c. Same design as larger rim sherd 02 TPE ?Bowl 1 7 19-20th c. Green print, floral design internal & external 02 LGRE Jar 1 45 18-19th c. Brown glazed, x2 conjoining body sherds 02 LGRE 2 18 18-19th c. Base sherd. 02 PEW Bowl 2 100 L18th-M.19th c X2 Conjoining sherds, white low quality transfer printed floral design, GHVLJQPDUNHGDVµ-$3$1¶PDNHUV PDUNµ% /¶ 02 PEW Bowl/?Jar 1 13 L.18th-M.19th c Painted with blue willow pattern. 02 PORC Dish/saucer 1 30 19-20th c. White glazed with pale blue shallow press moulded floral border 02 YELW Bowl 1 23 19-20th c. Straight sided bowl with two concentric bands of parallel blue lines ± ?kitchenware 02 RDSW 1 27 18-19th c. Lead glazed 02 1 11 18-19th c. Lead glazed 02 GSW4 Jug? 1 38 ?16th-17th c. Salt glazed Cologne/Freschen stoneware ± unabraded body sherd. ?either residual or later revival copy. 03 LSRW 1 17 18-19th c. Rim sherd, finely made, mottled manganese brown/yellow slip th th 04 MCWM 1 2 12 -14 c. Body sherd ± sooted externally 04 MCWM 1 1 12th-14th c. Sooted externally th th 15 MCWM 1 3 12 -14 c. Body sherd ± sooted externally

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Appendix 4: Catalogue of other artefacts (including Fired Clay)

Context No. Feature No. Material Object Object Date Feature Period 02 - Glass Bottle E20th E.modern Complete, slight crack/chip to shoulder. Clear, square (42mm), rounded shoulder, column neck. Marked (':$5'¶6 "UZON" BRILLIANTINE and µ5¶ and µ¶ on concave base. Height: 85mm. 02 - Glass Bottle - Ink L19-E20th E.modern Complete, squat rounded clear Ink Bottle with rounded shoulder (marked A 257 11 on base) Height: 50mm , Base diameter 45mm. 02 - Glass Bottle L19-E20th E.modern +HLJKWPPPP[PPµVTXDUH¶[VZLWKFROXPQQHFN/LSPLVVLQJ&KDPIHUHGFRUQHUV%OXLVK- green glass. Concave base marked with GLDPRQGFRQWDLQLQJDFDSLWDOµB¶. 02 - Glass Bottle 19-E20th E.modern Complete, clear glass, phial. Cylindrical, column neck, rounded shoulder. Height 126mm, Diam. 31mm. 02 - Glass Bottle L19-E20th E.modern Height: 166mm. Classic Camp Coffee square x/s pale-JUHHQERWWOH0DUNHGµESS ³& COFFEE & CHICORY´¶ µGLASGOW¶ and µPATTERSON¶S¶ on three sides leaving one blank for a paper label. Damaged lip. 02 - Glass Drinking Glass - M19th+ E.modern foot Handmade lead glass, rounded edge heavy, flat based, concealed pontil scar. Heavy striation marks. Wear on foot. Diameter: 58mm. A table/wine glass. 02 - Ceramic Pedestal pot 19-E20th E.modern Approximately two-WKLUGVRIDZKLWHJOD]HGFKLQDPLQLDWXUHGROO¶VFKDPEHUSRWXQGHFRUDWHGZLWKVLPSOH loop handle. 21mm in height. 02 - Ceramic Pedestal Pot E20th E.modern Approximately 2/3rds of a damaged pedestal ointment pot, of glazed stoneware impressed with blue glazed writing - µ6LQJOHWRQ¶V(\H2LQWPHQW¶. Diameter: 52mm, Height: 21mm 02 - Cu Alloy Oil lamp 19-E20th E.modern Oil light fitting with 9 individual components including regulator and burner head. Mantle decorated with perforated diamond mesh and simple foliate on collar piece. 180g 02 - Lead Fragment - E.modern Twisted ?window came fragment. Length: 60mm, Weight 5g. 02 - Worked Stone Fragment P.med E.modern Beaded ?Portland Stone, traces of whitewash. Unabraded. 70g 02 - Bone Toothbrush L19-E20th E.modern Broken head. Marked µ¶ EULVWOHQR DQGZRUQPDNHU¶VPRWLI"5RVHRUIORZHUZLWKOHDYHVEHWZHHQDQG µ"5¶ DQGµ"2¶ above µ:$55$17<¶. 5mm Thick. 121mm Length, 12g. 02 - Iron/Bone/Cu Alloy Knife 18-20th E.modern Composite scale tanged knife, integral bolster, blade 2mm thick. Bone scales held with 3 copper alloy rivets two parallel grooves on proximal end of one scale. Riveted end cap missing. Handle 12mm thick, forms 77mm of 98mm length. Total weight 37g. 02 - Pipe Clay Tobacco Pipe P.med E.modern Single stem 03 [09] Iron Nail - L.Post-medieval Oval head, 60mm thick square shank, 800mm in length 03 [09] Iron Nail/Stud - L.Post-medieval Oval head, 200mm in length 03 [09] Iron Nail/Stud - L.Post-medieval Oval head, 150mm in length 03 [09] Pipe Clay Tobacco Pipe P.med E.modern Two stem pieces 04 [07] Fired Clay ± daub Daub - Medieval Four pieces of daub weighing 123g in total. Three pieces present a fairly smooth, flat surface and one piece impressions of withy or lathes on opposing sides with diameters of c. 16mm. Calcerous inclusions.

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